On Lumino City
The jaw-droppingly gorgeous video game best described as a point-and-click adventure unlike any other you’ve ever played.
Initially released in 2014 the classic design stands the test of time. Many games use the papercraft visuals like Alto’s Adventure and Abi: A Robot Adventure, to name a couple, but none offers the authenticity as Lumino City does. What differs Lumino City from these games is that the decor really is handcrafted. It looks as if you can touch it from behind the screen, really feel the textures and edges of the cardboard.
The artwork was built in a studio in Euston, London by a team of artists, animators, propmakers and a director of photography all led by Luke Whittaker, Co-founder and lead designer at State of Play. Everything you see in the game, with exception of the animated characters that move around it, is entirely made of paper, glue and cardboard — miniature lights and motors were inserted into the design to bring it all to life. Every scene and movement was filmed and then put together with the animated characters. All done with immaculate attention to detail for the lightning, movement of the paper and the characters to behave as you would expect in the game.
Lumino City offers more than just a unique design. This adventurous puzzle game is a sequel to Lume, where the main character, with the same name, discovers that the power has failed in grandad’s house and works to restore it following clues left for her. In the end of Lume, grandad comes back. But he doesn’t stay for long as he is then kidnapped at the beginning of Lumino City. Lumi must go on a quest throughout the city where grandad works as a handyman to find him. To guide her Lumi, has his handyman-manual with tips to help her solve the mysteries she finds on the way. Lumi encounters various people in the city that help or trick her, all contributing to the overall experience, which leaves nothing more to be desired.